Refrigerator



March 15, 1960 c. K. LITMAN 2,928,262

REFRIGERATOR Filed Oct. 28 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR. C/zesfer /f. [ff/non BY fl w/6W.

ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 c. K. LITMAN 2,928,262

REFRIGERATOR Filed Oct. 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I5

C/2e 572/ K. A/f/mw a /2 /4 ATTORNEY United States Patent REFRIGERATOR Chester K. Litman, Kansas City, Mo.,.assignor to Koch Refrigerators, Inc., Kansas City,*Kans., a corporation of Missouri Application October 28, 1957, Serial No. 692,669

Claims. (Cl. 62- 419) This invention relates to a refrigerator for storing foods in pans, trays and cartons that are supported by racks q and slides, in the manner disclosed in my copending ap placement of the trays, pans and racks; to provide for efiicient distribution of the cooled air to the respective compartments; to provide an arrangement of the refrigerating element within the upper portion of the intermediate compartment and which is suitably enclosed to form an air inlet at one side and outlets at the opposite side f lc Patented Mar. 15, 1960 out interference with the spaces'p'rovided by the door openings.

The interior of the refrigerator isin effect divided into a plurality of upper and lower storage spaces 15 and 1 6, each space being in connection with a door opening, whereby the racks and slides for supporting the pans and trays 'may be inserted into the compartments by way of the door openings 12 and 13- and leave vertical spaces 17 and 18 between the pans, trays and racks and directlyback of the pilasters 9 and 10, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If desired, the upper and lower compartments may be separated at the level of the transverse members 11 by foraminated shelves 19, on which individual food containers may be placed. It is obvious that while the interior of the refrigerator constitutes a space, it is, in effect, divided into the separate compartments, and free circulation of cooled air is afforded through all of the compartments for return to an air cooling compartment 20 'in the upper portion of the top central compartment, as now to be described.

In carrying out the present invention, the top 6 of the refrigerator carries a refrigerating unit 21 that is enclosed in a ventilated housing 22. The refrigerating unit 21. includes a compressor 23, a condenser 24, and other appurtenances necessary to supply a refrigerating medium to a refrigerant evaporating or expansion element 25 which is horizontally supported in the compartment 20. The compartment 20 is formed by a horizontal partition 26 extending transversely of the central portion of the rear wall of the refrigerator and forwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2, but terminating short of the front of the refrigerator to provide an elongated air inlet opening in connection with the vertical ducts; and to provide the vertical duets with blowers for promoting circulation of the cooled air.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the'prefe'rr'ed form of which is illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a refrigerator'ernbodying the features of the present invention.

' Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the refrigerator, on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the central por-' tion of the refrigerator, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

' Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the central pcttion of the refrigerator, the section being taken on the 3 line 4--4 of Fig. 3. a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryvertical section through one of the blowers, showing its connection with the vertical duct with which it is associated.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

' 1 designates a refrigerator constructed in, accordance verse members 11 to cooperate therewith in providing upper and lower rows of door openings12 and 13 through which access is had to the interior of the refrigerator.

The door openings are closed by insulated doors 14, suitably hinged to the side walls and one .of the pilasters,

downwardly of the rear wall 5 and in accordance with the spacing of the pilasters 9 and 10 are depending air distributing ducts 30 and 31, each havingsides 32 and 33 connected by a front side 34, all of which terminate short of the bottomgf7 of the refrigerator, to provide air outlets 35 thereunder- To better distribute the cooled air through the outlets 35, the rear portions 36 of the sides 32 and 33 extend downwardly a greater distance than the front portions thereof and the forward edges are connected by a bafile 37 to divide the downflowing stream of air and effect a secondary flow directly over and across the bottom of the refrigerating compartments. The sides of the ducts are preferably provided along the height therea of with outlets 38 and 39 for discharging separate streams of air into the respective compartments. Each of the outlets 38 and 39 is preferably covered by an inwardly and upwardly directed louver 40 to assure a positive dis- I charge of air therethrough.

a eshown, whereby the doors may open. outwardly with In order to provide for forced circulation of the air,

the upper portion of each duct is equipped with a blower 41,; each having an inlet 42 directly connected with the 1 compartment 20 and an outlet 43 opening downwardly into each duct, as best shown in Figs. 4' and 5.

Assuming that the refrigerator is constructed and assembled as described, and that the refrigeration unit isin operation, with the various food carrying racks and slides in position in the different compartments, the air circulation is as follows:

.Air is drawn by the blowers from the different compartments through the air inlet 27 and passes between -;the fins 29- of the evaporator 25, where theair is cooled by contact with the fins 29 and coils 28 for discharge through the outlets 43 of the blowers into the upper ends of the depending ducts 3t and 31. The air moves under pressure downwardly through the ducts 'andtportions are discharged through the louvered openings38 and; 39 laterally into the rear portions of the outermost com partments and into the central compartments; The: major portion of the air is carried downwardlyand is,

from where it circulates upwardly through, the compart-- ments for return to the inlet 27 of. the refrigerating com-l partment for refrigeration and recirculation.

. in.connection with said. air cooling compartment and If desired, the rear Wall of the refrigerator may be;

provided with doors, so that the racks, trays and. pans, may be inserted at one side and removed through the doors; atthe opposite side. This is made possible because the. air flow ducts 3tland 31 are located-in. registry withthe: pilasters.

Fromthe foregoing, it is. obvious that'I have; provided; a: refrigerator construction which is well adapted to the. inventions covered in the above; described applications, and that the air circulation which, is provided; by the present invention provides optimum circulation of. the; air around the individual foods when contained in the racks, pans and/or trays, as disclosed inthe copending: applications. a

What I claim and desire-to secure by Letters; Patent is: LA refrigerator, including a casing having side and. rear walls, a top and. bottom and. spaced. apartipilasters; inthefront of. the casing providing sides ofydoor-openings in. connection: with food storage spaces in" the: casing, said food storage spaces corresponding in Width; to the; widthof the door. openings, means providing an air:cool-- ing compartment within. the upper portion oflthe casing and spaced inwardly fromthe pilasters, said compartment. having anopening therein in direct connection with theupper: portion. of. one of theifood storage spaces, aduct: in connection with said air cooling compartment and. extendingdownwardly along said rear Wall in'a. position thereon corresponding to the position, of one of the pilasters in the front of the casing, said duct being spaced from the pilaster to provide a connection between, said storage. spaces, a refrigerating element in said air; cooling compartment, said duct having openings therein in direct connection with the storage spaces and cooperatingwithv the; opening in the air cooling compartment for passing: air: toandfrom: said storage spaces in circulating. contact: witlrtherefrigerating elcment,.a blower-in connectioniwith; said air cooling compartment. for forceably' circulating the; air, and-a refrigerant supply unit. havingsupport on. the top ofthecasing above said air coolingcompartmcnt. for-supplyinga refrigerant to the refrigerating;element,

2. A refrigerator, including a casing having side and rearwalls, a top and bottom and spaced apart pilasters inithe front of the casing cooperating with each; other and with the side walls for providing door openingstherebetween in connection with a center and side food. storage spaces in the casing substantially corresponding in width; to the respective door openings, means providing a transa verse air cooling compartment within the upper portion. of the center food storage space and having ends terminating inrearwardly spaced relation withthe backs of the pilasters, ducts in connectionwith said ends. of the: air.

cooling compartment and extending downwardly along-- 7 said. rearwall in a positionthereon corresponding to the with the said connection of the ducts for forceably circulating the air, and means fonsupplying refrigerant to the refrigerating element.

, 3. A refrigerator, including a casing having side and rear walls, a top and bottom and spaced apart pilasters in the front of the casing cooperating with each other Land with the sidewalls" for. providing door openings discharged, through the bottom outlets 35 ofthe-ducts,"

therebetween in connection with a center and side food storage spaces in the--casing substantially" corresponding in width to the respective dooropenings, means providing a transverse air cooling compartment within the upper j portion;ofl'the-centenfoodistorage'space andhaving ends terminating in rearwardly spaced relation with the pilasters, ducts in connection with said'ends of the air cooling compartment and extending downwardly along said rear wall in a position thereon corresponding to the position of Q the: pilasters; within. the front of. the; casing, said ducts being: spaced; from. the pilasters, to provide a connectionv between, said; storage spaces, a refrigerating, element insaid aircooling compartment, said ducts having openings therein:in. direct connection with the storage spaces and-v said air cooling; compartment having an opening therein air, and a refrigerant supply unithaving support onthe.

top of the casing; above said air. cooling compartment for supplying refrigerant-to. the refrigerating element.

4. A refrigeratolg. including a casing having side and,

- rear walls, atop andbottom and spaced. apart, pilasters. in. the-front of. the casing cooperating with each other and with the side. walls for providing door openings,

- therebetweenin. connection witha. center, and. side food inwidthto therespectivedoor openings, meansproviding,

storage. spaces in. the casting substantially corresponding terminating back. of. the. pilasters, ducts in connection Withsaidendsof, the air, cooling. compartment and extend,

ing downwardly along said rear wall, in a position thereon; corresponding to the position of the pilasterswithin the. frontof. the. casing and havinglateral outlets along the length thereof intothe. storage. spaces, said. ducts. being .spacedfromthe pilasters, to provide connections between the food storage spaces for return of air from, the, side storage, spaces through the center storage space.- to the open front. of, theair cooling cornpartment, a refrigerat ing element in said air cooling compartment for coolingthe. air blowersin; connection with said air cooling compartment. and with. the said connection of the ducts for forc'eably circulating the air, and means for supplying refrigerant. to the refrigerating element. a

5.1 A refrigerator, inclu'dinga casing having side an rear walls, a top and bottom and. spaced apart pilasters in the front of. the, casing cooperating withv each. other and. with the sidewalls for providingdoor openings therebetween inv connectionwith a center and-sidefood storagev spacesin the casing substantially corresponding in width space for passing air. to and from said storage? spacestine circulatingcontact withthe refrigerating elemenfitblmrst 75.

to the respective door openings, means providing an Open 1 front' aircooling compartment within the upper portion. of thecasingand'spac'ed inwardly from the pilasters, said air cooling compartment extending transversely of the center'food storage space and having ends terminating baclccof thepilasters, ducts in connection with saidends of. the air: cooling compaitment'and extending downwardly along saidrear: wall in a: position thereon corresponding" toflthei position:of'thepilasters within" the front of thecasing-randshavinglateral outlets along the length thereof into;1the'.:s,torage spaces, said ducts being'spaced' front the pilasterstorprova'de connections between the: food. storage;

through the center storage space to the open front of the air cooling compartment, a refrigerating element in said air cooling compartment for cooling the air, blowers in connection with said air cooling compartment and with the said connection of the ducts for forceably circulating the air, and a refrigerant supply unit having support on the top of the casing above said air cooling compartment for supplying refrigerant to the refrigerating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rear Mar. 15,1938

Starr et a1 Mar. 28, 1939 Lieberman Sept. 5,1939 Holderle Sept. 18, 1956 Di Angelus Dec. 10, 1957 

